Method and apparatus for manipulating digital image data

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing digital image data of an image. The digital data is divided up into a plurality of image segments and distributed to at least two image processing units. The image segments each have an overlapping region of the next adjacent image segment. The digital data is manipulated by each of the at least two image processing units at the same time and sent to a print engine interface unit as requested where the image is recombined.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of processing digital image data of an image, comprising the steps of: 
       a) obtaining a digital record of an image;  
       b) segmenting the digital record into a plurality of image segments, each of the image segments having an image region and an overlapping region with respect to adjacent image segments;  
       c) distributing the image segments to at least two image processing units;  
       d) said at least two image processing units manipulating each of the image segments of the digital record; and  
       e) recombining the image regions of each of the image segments for reformation of the image.  
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of printing a writing segment as soon as it is completed by said at least two image processing units. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 2  wherein said writing segment comprises a line of digital data. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing a communication bus between said at least two image processing units and a print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 4  wherein said at least two image processing units comprises two image processing units. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 4  wherein said bus connects said print engine interface unit to at least four image processing units. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1  wherein a central processing unit is provided for segmenting the digital record and for sending the image segments to at least two image processing units and for providing data to a print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
       providing substantially continuous data to a printer in substantially real time such that data may be continuously recorded onto a media.  
     
     
       9. An apparatus for manipulated digital image data, comprising a central processing unit for managing a digital image record for at least one image, at least two image processing units in communication with said central processing unit, and a print engine interface unit in communication with said central processing unit, said central processing unit segmenting said digital record into a plurality of image segments and forwarding said image segments to said at least two image processing units, each of said image segments having an image region and an overlapping region with respect to adjacent segments, said at least two image processing units manipulating the image segments, said print engine interface unit obtaining information from said central processing unit such that appropriate digital data may be obtained from said at least two image processing units for recombining of the image using the image region of each of the image segments and for forwarding the recombined image to a printing device. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein a bus connects said print engine interface unit and said at least two image processing units for allowing data to be quickly and efficiently communicated therebetween. 
     
     
       11. A method of processing digital image data of an image, comprising the steps of: 
       a) obtaining a digital record of an image;  
       b) segmenting the digital record into a plurality of image segments, each of the plurality image segments comprising an image region and an overlapping region with respect to adjacent image segments;  
       c) distributing said image segments to at least two image processing units;  
       d) manipulating each of the image segments of the digital record by said at least two image processing units; and  
       e) recombining the image regions of each of said image segments for reformation of said image.  
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of printing a writing segment as soon as it is completed by said at least two image processing units. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 12  wherein said writing segment comprises a line of digital data. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of providing a bus for communication between said at least two image processing units and a print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 14  wherein said at least two image processing units comprises three image processing units. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 14  wherein said bus connects said print engine interface unit to at least four image processing units. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 11  wherein a central processing unit is provided for managing data being sent to at least two image processing units and a print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of: 
       providing substantially continuous data to a printer in substantially real time such that data may be continuously recorded onto a media.  
     
     
       19. An apparatus for manipulated digital image data, comprising a central processing unit for managing a digital record for at least one image, at least two image processing units in communication with said central processing unit, and a print engine interface unit in communication with said central processing unit, said central processing unit segmenting the digital record into a plurality of image segments for forwarding on to said at least two image processing units, each of the plurality of image segments comprising an image region and an overlapping region with respect to adjacent image segments, said at least two image processing units manipulate the image segments, said print engine interface unit obtaining information from said central processing unit such that appropriate digital data may be obtained from said at least two image processing units, for recombining of said image using said regions of said plurality of image segments. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein a bus connects said print engine interface unit and said at least two image processing units for allowing data to be quickly and efficiently communicated therebetween. 
     
     
       21. A method of processing digital image data of an image in a photographic printer, comprising the steps of: 
       a) obtaining a digital record of an image;  
       b) segmenting the digital record into a plurality of image segments, each of said image segments having an image region and an overlapping region with respect to adjacent image segments;  
       c) distributing said image segments to at least two image processing units;  
       d) said at least two image processing units manipulating each of said image segments of said digital record; and  
       e) recombining the image regions of each of said image segments for reformation of said image.  
     
     
       22. A method according to  claim 21  further comprising the step of printing a writing segment as soon as it is completed by said at least two image processing units. 
     
     
       23. A method according to  claim 22  wherein said writing segment comprises a line of digital data. 
     
     
       24. A method according to  claim 21  further comprising the step of providing a communication bus between said at least two image processing units and said print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       25. A method according to  claim 24  wherein said at least two image processing units comprises two image processing units. 
     
     
       26. A method according to  claim 24  wherein said bus connects said print engine interface unit to at least four image processing units. 
     
     
       27. A method according to  claim 21  wherein a central processing unit is provided for segmenting the digital record and for sending the image segments to at least two image processing units and for providing data to said print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       28. A method according to  claim 21  further comprising the step of: 
       providing substantially continuous data to a printer in substantially real time such that data may be continuously recorded onto a media.  
     
     
       29. A digital printer for printing onto a photographic material, said printer comprising a central processing unit for managing a digital image record for at least one image, at least two image processing units in communication with said central processing unit, and a print engine interface unit in communication with said central processing unit, said central processing unit segmenting said digital record into a plurality of image segments and forwarding said image segments to said at least two image processing units, each of said image segments having an image region and an overlapping region with respect to adjacent segments, said at least two image processing units manipulating the image segments, said print engine interface unit obtaining information from said central processing unit such that appropriate digital data may be obtained from said at least two image processing units for recombining of the image using said image regions of said plurality of image segments and for forwarding the recombined image to a device. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus according to  claim 29  wherein a bus connects said print engine interface unit and said at least two image processing units for allowing data to be quickly and efficiently communicated therebetween. 
     
     
       31. A method of processing digital image data of an image in a photographic printer, comprising the steps of: 
       a) obtaining a digital record of an image;  
       b) segmenting the digital record into a plurality of image segments, each of said plurality of image segments comprising an image region and an overlapping region;  
       c) distributing said image segments to at least two image processing units;  
       d) manipulating each of the image regions of the digital record by said at least two image processing units; and  
       e) recombining the image regions of each of said image segments for reformation of said image.  
     
     
       32. A method according to  claim 31  further comprising the step of printing a writing segment as soon as it is completed by said at least two image processing units. 
     
     
       33. A method according to  claim 32  wherein said writing segment comprises a line of digital data. 
     
     
       34. A method according to  claim 31  further comprising the step of providing a bus for communication between said at least two image processing units and a print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       35. A method according to  claim 34  wherein said at least two image processing unit comprises three image processing units. 
     
     
       36. A method according to  claim 34  wherein said bus connects said print engine interface unit to at least four image processing units. 
     
     
       37. A method according to  claim 31  wherein a central processing unit is provided for managing data being sent to at least two image processing units and a print engine interface unit. 
     
     
       38. A method according to  claim 31  further comprising the step of: 
       providing substantially continuous data to a printer in substantially real time such that data may be continuously recorded onto a media.  
     
     
       39. A digital printer for printing onto a photographic material, comprising a central processing unit for managing a digital record for at least one image, at least two image processing units in communication with said central processing unit, and a print engine interface unit in communication with said central processing unit, said central processing unit segmenting the digital record into a plurality of image segments for forwarding on to said at least two image processing units, each of said plurality of said image segments having an image region and an overlapping region, said at least two image processing units manipulate the image segments, said print engine interface unit obtaining information from said central processing unit such that appropriate digital data may be obtained from said at least two image processing unit for combining of said image region of said plurality of image segments. 
     
     
       40. An apparatus according to  claim 39  wherein a bus connects said print engine interface unit and said at least two image processing units for allowing data to be quickly and efficiently communicated therebetween.